CONFESSION OF SINS

CONFESSION OF SINSFew of the Lord's people will deny that Christians must confess their sins in order to be forgiven. But there is much disagreement on the specifics of such confession. Does every sin have to be specifically confessed? If so, does each incident of every sin have to be enumerated? If so, how many details need to be given?Is a public confession necessary, at all?

CONFESSION OF SINS

Confession Illustrated

Luke 15:21Luke 15:21

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'"

Luke 18:10-12Luke 18:10-12

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

Luke 18:13-14Luke 18:13-14

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'"

CONFESSION OF SINS

Confession IllustratedExamples of Confession

Luke 5:8Luke 5:8

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

Luke 23:39-41Luke 23:39-41

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."

CONFESSION OF SINS

Confession IllustratedExamples of Confession Confession Is Required

Confession of Sins To God

1 John 1:91 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 7:23Matthew 7:23

"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

Matthew 14:7Matthew 14:7

Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

John 1:20John 1:20

Therefore He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

Acts 23:8Acts 23:8

For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection--and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

Titus 1:16Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1 John 4:2-31 John 4:2-3

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

1 John 4:151 John 4:15

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

CONFESSION OF SINS

Confession IllustratedExamples of Confession Confession Is Required

Confession of Sins to GodConfession of Sins to Man

James 5:16James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Matthew 3:5-6Matthew 3:5-6

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Matthew 11:25Matthew 11:25

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."

Matthew 11:25Matthew 11:25

At that time Jesus answering said, 'I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.' (YLT)

Luke 22:6Luke 22:6

So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

CONFESSION OF SINS

Confession IllustratedExamples of Confession Confession Is Required

Confession of Sins to GodConfession of Sins to Man

Specific Confession To God

Specific Confession to GodSpecific Confession to God

One cannot admit to sins of which he, himself, is not aware. But if one does not admit to every sin of which he is aware, is he not denying those he does not admit to?

1 John 3:18-201 John 3:18-20

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

1 John 3:21-221 John 3:21-22

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

CONFESSION OF SINS

Confession IllustratedExamples of Confession Confession Is Required

Confession of Sins to GodConfession of Sins to Man

Specific ConfessionTo GodTo Man

Specific Confession to ManSpecific Confession to Man

Certainly one must publically admit to every sin of which he is aware and with which he has been charged. But how can we enforce the doctrine that one must publically confess each instance of every sin that he has committed?We could never know he has done so.